Sofa convertible into a bed by unfolding in one direction only



June 8, 1965 A. DUCROT 3,187,351

SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY Filed Dec. '7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi .1. 2T1- a '& I .ll 43 J M I u l I H 4a --u A -|l|l Am 4 1' il vI'll .n I

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June 8, 1965 puc o'r 3,187,351

SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN 02m DIRECTION ONLY Filed Dec. 7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 8, 1965 A. DUCROT 3,187,351

SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY Filed Dec. 7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. DUCROT 3,

SOFA CONVERTIBLE iNTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY June 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 7, 1962 June 8, 1965 A. DucRpT 3,187,351

SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY Filed Dec. 7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1955 A. DUCROT 3,187,351

SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY Filed Dec. 7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 N o g M N N l m 1 6 I w M a -J 3 1! c: I I. a a m Ne N i 6 a r O \2 4 v4 m a "J w v N\ i I United States Patent M 3,187,351 SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFGLDING IN ONE Di-RECTIGN GNLY Albert Ducrot, 75 Blvd. Malesilerhes, Paris, France Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 243,031 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 9, 1961, 881,498, Patent 1,315,399 3 Claims. (Cl. -31) This invention relates to convertible sofa-bed having a spring-mattress of the blade or mesh spring typewith tension springs which is folded under the seat throughout the depth of the frame and adapted to be expanded forward to the bed position without displacing the head of the bed and without displacing the furniture as currently observed in the case of conventional convertible sofabed wherein the head and foot of the bed are foldable on either side of a medial element.

It is the essential object of this invention to increase the bedding surface without increasing the overall dimensions of the furniture, to use the back as a foot element in the bed position, thus freeing inasmuch the head of the bed, to preserve in all positions the parallelism and rigidity of the spring-mattress, to give a satisfactory seating comfort in the sofa position without any contact between the seat elements and the spring-mattress, and to assist the efforts'necessary for unfolding and folding the furniture in order to facilitate its operation.

To this end, the convertible sofa-bed according to this invention is characterized by the following features:

('1) The frame of the bladeor mesh-type spring-mattress, consisting of four sections hingedly interconnected to constitute in the sofa position a volume of rectangular cross-section concealing the'folded mattress, and in the bed position a horizontal flat structure supporting the unfolded mattress, is supported in turn by two lateral sets of swinging supporting members pivoted on said frame, the folding and unfolding movements of the sofa-bed being synchronized by sets of control links.

(2) The back of the sofa is supported at its bottom by a set of balanced links pivoted on said spring-mattress frame and on control links so that when said links become operative for unfolding the spring-mattress frame in the bed position it can swing through an angle greater than 90 to a position in which it constitutes the foot of the bed, thus freeing the entire space previously occupied by the back in the sofa position; thus, the back upholstery will never contact the bedding.

(3) The end frame element on the head side of the bed is controlled from the members supporting the springrnattress frame so as to extend vertically against the head of the bed, whereby the mattress end is folded by 90 in the sofa position; the length of the frame element adjacent to the other end frame element which is also folded through 90 in the sofa position corresponds to twice the mattress thickness so as to house the mattress folded on its-elf under the frame.

(4) The end frame element on the bed foot side is provided with bladeor mesh-springs secured on the leg distance-pieces and on the longitudinal blades or meshes of the spring-mattress to constitute an elastic seat-support and mattress prote-otion member.

(5) Balance springs are provided between the cradle and the frame supporting links for balancing the assembly.

(6) A panel rigid with a pair of frame-supporting members is adapted to be lowered for unfolding of the sofa and to be raised to the sofa position for constituting a facingpanel.

(7) The parallelism and rigidity of the spring-mattress are preserved by the provision of bracing members between the lower ends of said frame supporting members and retractable legs. 7

3,187,351 Patented June 8, I965 Other details of the structure of the convertible sofa bed of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the sofa-bed in its closed or'sofa position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the sofa-bed in its unfolded position;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view showing the sofa, the upholstery and arm-rest being removed to show the internal structure thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a similar View showing the sofa during the unfolding thereof from the front;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the furniture in the bed position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical medial cross section;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIGURE 8 is .a perspective View showing a detail of the spring-mattress frame;

' FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified embodiment;

FIGURES 10 and 11 are views similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively of the same modified embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the convertible sofabed of this invention is of the type comp-rising separate seat and back as well as a hinged spring-mattress of the blade or mesh type, adapted to-be unfolded forward to constitute a bed without displacing the furniture.

This sofa-bed comprises essentially a cradle or like structure consisting in this example of a pair of side frames 1 braced at 34 and 35, and of a head 2. The spring-mattress frame consists of four sections comprising parallel longitudinal members 7, 113, 14, 15 and their bracing members, and of flexible blades is constituting the springmattr-ess proper supporting the bed mattress 17. Intermediate the longitudinal members 1 and on the front side of the cradle frame structure are pivoted on pins 3, 4 two parallel supporting members 5, 6 also pivoted at 11, 12 on the longitudinal members 7 of the spring-mattress frame and at their opposite ends 8, 9 on links 10 connected in turn to the links of the end elements of the spring-mattress frame.

The links 10 connecting the supporting members 5, 6 of frame 1 and the links 37 interconnecting the end element 15 of the frame are pivoted on connecting links 19, 2t} pivoted in turn -on.the frame element 14 at the same point 18. Pivoted in turn on this link 20 are the legs 21 pivotally mounted at 22 on the frame element 15 together with links 23 guiding the sofa-back 24.

Other links 38 are provided for securing the end element 13 on the aforesaid supporting member 6.

The sofa-back 24 has its lower portion pivoted at 25 on the one hand, on a perpendicular extension 27 of end element 15 and on the other hand at 26 on a link 40 pivoted in turn .at 41 on links 37, whereby, when the back 24 is pulled forwards, the set of control links 10, 19, 24 37, 40 and 38 unfold the four frame elements which become aligned at the same level from the frame 2; this transformation is obtained by simply removing the cushions 31, moving the frame element 15 to a nearly verticalposition, and subsequently swinging the back 24 to a vertical'position in which it constitutes the foot of the bed, the upholstered face being turned outwards. By continuing this forward movement the elements 14, '7 and 13 of the frame become aligned in a common horizontal plane, that is, in the bed position, the bedding being disposed thereon.

Thus, an adequate bedding length is obtained by unfolding the minimum length of the supporting frame utilized from the bed head panel 2 which is completely free.

In the reverse movement, when the back 24 is lifted and tilted in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 4), the linkage elements will fold on themselves the frame, the mattress, the legs 21 and cause the frame element 7 to recede due to the operation of the supporting members 5, 6 and the raising of the end element 13 to a vertical position against the frame 2.

Springs 29 tensioned for example between the cradle 1 and supports 6 balance the efforts to facilitate the movement to and from the bed position.

A transverse panel 30 is mounted by means of gussets 28 on the front supports of the frame and follows the movements thereof so as to fold under the bedding without interfering with the forward expansion of the assembly and constitute the sofa facing panel in the folded position.

The seat consisting for example of detachable cushions 31 is flexibly supported by elastic blades 36 attached at 81 to the longitudinal blades 16 of the spring-mattress proper and anchored by tension springs 39 on the crossmember 42 of legs 21. These flexible blades 36 act only in the sofa position (see FIG. 8) for supporting the cushions 31 and protect the underlying mattress 17. They would support the cushions even if the springmattress were removed, and in the bed position they are free (see FIG. 7).

The lateral panels associated if desired with arm-rests 43 are secured for example by means of lugs 44 welded on extensions 45 of the cradle structure.

Cross members or reinforcing bracing elements 46 are provided between the supports 5 for stiffening the assembly and avoid any interference with the elastic movements of the spring-mattress.

With this sofa-bed structure a bolster or like bed element, or if desired pillars may be housed in the space 47 available between the panel 2 at the head of the panel and the back 24 above the folded bed mattress.

Of course, many modifications may be brought to the arrangement and structure described and illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the cross-member 46 of link 5 may cooperate with stop members 50 and 51 to limit the movements of the bed-concealing elements in the folded position and impart a good rigidity to the assembly in this position. Casing elements 80 may be provided on the frame for protecting the bedding on the sides.

In the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9, and 11 the same component elements as in the preceding example are shown, these elements being assembled with the same purposes and the same function, except for a few constructional details. Thus, the end frame element 13 of the spring-mattress, on the bed head side, which is adapted to be raised vertically or at 90 against the head 2 of the bed in the sofa position is provided with a bracket extension member 51 adapted to support the lug 52 carried by the perpendicular extension 27 of the end element of the bed frame.

The movement of back 24 is simplified in that a rod 75 rigid therewith and pivoted on the perpendicular extension 27 of the end element is connected at 26 to the link 40 pivoted at 41 on a triangular plate 53 pivoted in turn at its vertex 77 on the end element 15 of the frame and at its other vertex 78 on one end of a link 54 having its other end pivoted on one end of link having its opposite end pivoted at 55 on the intermediate element 14. A return spring 71 is anchored between the points 77 and 72. This linkage 20, 54, 53, 40 is adapted to ensure the unfolding and folding of the end element 15 in synchronism with the 90-degree movement of element 14 responsive to the linkage of element 7 while positioning or retracting the legs 21, at the same time.

The supporting members 5 and 6 of element 7 are not interconnected in this modified embodiment. Only the members 5 pivoted at 11 on the frame have their extensions pivoted on links 57. On either side each link 57 is connected on the one hand to link 19 pivoted at 18 on the intermediate frame element and, on the other hand, to a lever 58 fulcrumed about a pivot pin 59 carried by the spring-mattress frame and controlling the link 60 for operating the end element 13.

A pair of additional legs 64 is provided. These legs are pivoted at 79 on depending arm 63 of link 19 and at 68 on a bell crank lever 67 fulcrumed at one end 66 on the member 28 supporting the panel 30, the other end of this lever carrying a heel 65.

A balance spring 62 is pre-stressed between this member 28 and a bracket 70 rigid with the longitudinal members 1.

The stop members for supporting the spring-mattress in the inoperative position are constituted by the bracing rods 50 of the cradle and by the bracing members 46 and 73 of the parts supporting the frame element 7.

Handles (not shown) are provided on the back 24 for facilitating the sofa-bed movements.

This sofa-bed structure, although it is made from ele ments and means already known per se, such as the frame consisting of four folding elements, synchronized control links and operating links, stiffening bracing members, is adapted, by properly selecting the dimensions and shape of its component elements as well as the pivotal interconnection thereof, to provide substantial advantages in comparison with hitherto known convertible sofa-beds.

(a) The back is so connected to the bed-foot side of the spring-mattress frame and to the links controlling the pivoted elements of this frame with a view to tilt down said back when expanding or opening the furniture from the sofa position to the bed position, that it can be used as a bed foot, the space thus cleared at the head of the bed being available for receiving the folded end portion of the bed mattress, whereby the bed will protrude less in the room.

(b) The cavity receiving the seat cushions is provided with a resilient mattress connected to the spring-mattress of the overlay or bed mattress proper and to the bracing rod of the end legs, thus seating the sofa independently of the mattress which it protects.

(c) The spring-mattress supporting frame is stiffened by bracing members provided between the supporting and guiding members and between the operating links, thus preserving the parallelism of the spring-mattress without interfering with its elasticity.

(d) The front of the sofa is clear when the furniture is being unfolded, thus facilitating the passage of the spring-mattress and of the bedding.

What I claim is:

1. In a sofa convertible into a bed by unfolding in a single direction a frame of the spring mattress which consists of four elements hingedly interconnected in series so as to constitute in the sofa position a volume of rectangular cross-sectional configuration adapted to receive the folded mattress and constituting a seat with back rest, and in the bed position a flat structure for supporting the unfolded mattress, the elements adjacent to the head of the bed being supported by two lateral sets of pivoting supporting members hingedly mounted on the sofa frame, the elements adjacent to the foot of the bed being supported by at least one pair of retractable legs, and control links interconnecting laterally said elements with one another and with their supports, an arrangement wherein the back rest is pivoted at its bottom on the end element of the spring mattress on the bed foot side.

2. Sofa bed as set forth in claim 1, comprising on either side of said end element links having one end pivoted on said control links of the spring-mattress elements and of the pair of end legs, and the other end pivoted beneath the pivotal mounting of said back rest on said end element, the length of said links being such References Cited by the Examiner that during the unfolding of said spring-mattress frame UNITED STATES PATENTS to the bed position said back rest moves to an end posi- 7 tion in which it constitutes the foot of the bed at right 2,584,146 2/52 Martin 5 9 angles to the bed. 5 2,595,038 4/52 Woller 529 3. Sofa bed as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end 2,642,583 6/53 Bank et a1. 5-32 element of the -frarne on the bed foot end is provided with 2,663,028 12/53 Winikofi 529 spring blades or meshes secured at one end on the cross 2 6733 55 3/54 D t 5 14 member of said legs and at the opposite end on the 40, 30 7 5 P k et 1 5 31 Xv longitudinal spring blades or meshes of the spring 10 mattress. FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SOFA CONVERTIBLE INTO A BED BY UNFOLDING IN A SINGLE DIRECTION A FRAME OF THE SPRING MATTRESS WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR ELEMENT HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED IN SERIES SO AS TO CONSTITUTE IN THE SOFA POSITION A VOLUME OF RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FOLDED MATRESS AND CONSTITUTING A SEAT WITH BACK REST, AND IN THE BED POSITION A FLAT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING THE UNFOLDED MATRESS, THE ELEMENTS ADJACENT TO THE HEAD OF THE BED BEING SUPPORTED BY TWO LATERAL SETS OF PIVOTING SUPPORTING MEMBERS HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON THE SOFA FRAME, THE ELEMENTS ADJACENT TO THE FOOT OF THE BED BEING SUPPORTED BY AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF RETRACTABLE LEGS, AND CONTROL LINKS INTERCONNECTING LATERALLY SAID ELEMENTS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH THEIR SUPPORTS, AN ARRANGEMENT WHEREIN THE BACK REST IS PIVOTED AT ITS BOTTOM ON THE END ELEMENT OF THE SPRING MATTRESS ON THE BED FOOT SIDE. 